Soldier Record

Another Alfreton soldier, probably the youngest of the gallant band, Corporal Bernard Terry Preston, has been awarded the Military Medal for 'conspicuous bravery' on the Western Front. He is the youngest son of Councillor George Preston, one of Alfreton's best known and oldest public men, and Alfretonians will share the pride which the parents feel over the coveted honour of their gallant son. Councillor Preston heard the pleasing news the other morning, but his son did not transmit any details. Corporal Preston, who has two brothers with the forces, enlisted in the RFA at Nottingham when considerably under military age in the early part of 1915. He had previously displayed remarkable keenness upon getting into the Army, but he was not accepted on account of his age until he tried Nottingham. He is attached to the Observation Section of the RFA, and he has been in France a considerable period, in fact about two years, although so young. He is an old Boy Scout and is an original member of the Alfreton No.1 Company, and his training as a Scout has admirably fitted him for military observation work. As the Chairman of the Alfreton Tribunal Councillor Preston has just claims to an exemplary record of family service to the nation in this crisis.

ALFRETON MILITARY MEDALLIST - Derbyshire Times 5 Dec 1917